Polar bears need your help!

Polar bears need your help! These animals are at risk of extinction from global warming—their sea-ice habitat is melting, posing a serious threat to the survival of the species.

Two rules were passed in the final days of the Bush administration that weaken the Endangered Species Act. One exempts an expansive range of activities from expert scientist review, and the other bans federal agencies from examining the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on polar bears.

President Obama’s Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, has overturned the regulation that exempted the expert scientist review. Additionally, he has authority to rescind the rule that reduces protections for polar bears. However, Salazar’s authority will expire on Friday, May 8.